Page 1 of 1

Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:27 am
by ttBrendaRose
hi chili my irn is now 14 months old. he is very snuggly and talks alot. I handle him alot and he loves kisses and snuggles. he use to just have moments of flock calling 2 times a day but lately he has started to scream and screech even when we are in the room with him and all the time. i work at home and he is with me 90% of the time. he has lots of food choices, toys, attention, he gets out of his cage most of the day as well and it has always been this way. he does this annoying scream and screech that goes on and on and i am so hoping it is just temporary cuz i will not be able to handle this 4 ever and we will not be able to live together in harmony. could he just be going thru a phase as he is getting more mature? can anyone please give me some feedback on this? the only way to make him stop is to cover him up. i love the little muffin but he is really getting on my nerves and that isn't right. for me or for him.

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:42 am
by ttBrendaRose
seems no one has any feedback for me. I thought this board was to help and support each other with our birdies. Donna's post about the 10 steps was very helpful. Thanks Donna.

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:02 pm
by Azure
sorry its just that there are not too many experts on IRN, and i dont know as well, so we dont know what to post...

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:40 pm
by Lilu86
I've been in the parrot scene for many years now but am reasonably new to IRNs so my advice only comes off a general knowledge.

You baby could be getting too much of a good thing, whereby when he wants attention or food or snuggles ect he has started to become demanding. He could also have developed separation issues as well. Without seeing him in the flesh I cannot wholly say but it is symptomatic of other birds too.

My Sun Conure is currently going through the demanding stage and he has plenty of toys, human and out of cage attention. Because he has learnt to be independant I know it isnt a form of separation anxiety.

I would try ignoring the screaming and give him positive attention when he is quiet. Also try not to talk or backchat to him when he is screaming, he could see it as a form of re-inforcement.

Hope it settles soon.

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:38 pm
by Lauren
Hello, sorry you are not getting the response you need right now, sometimes the board can be a bit quiet and sometimes the answers are in other posts. But I know this certain 'call', my female does this non stop whenever my partner is around. She just doesnt like my partner. It can be hard to keep the peace at times. We figured out if my partner wears his hoodie over his head, she doesnt notice him haha that is what we've resorted to. :roll: Is there anything Chilli might be afraid of in the room? sometimes it can be something you are just unaware of. It might also just be attention seeking. Do you react to this 'call'? I would ignore it or walk out of the room when Chilli starts. Praise him and give him lots of attention when hes quiet. It might take some time. Bad behaviours can be stopped. Dont loose hope. I have learned that the more freedom and attention they get the more demanding they can be when they are not getting what they want. For example, my birds are free to roam the house and only sleep in their cage. But when I have to lock them up in their cage, they will start 'demanding' to be let out with this screetch that they KNOW irritates me they will even bang their beaks on the perch as if they are stamping their feet telling me 'LOOK AT ME NOW!' :evil: . Its hard not to react or give them what they want. But in the end. We need to be firm and ignore this behaviour.

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:29 pm
by ttBrendaRose
Thanks everyone soooo much for your feedback. It makes sense to me that he is beginning to be demanding. Duh! I will no longer react to his screams and interact with him when he is quiet. He is being a spoiled little brat and I have allowed that. Well it is time to fix it. I appreciate what you've suggested and I will give it m y best. I love the little muffin. I just want us to live in harmony and it is up to me.

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:31 am
by ttBrendaRose
Well I have been trying what everyone suggested with Chili and it is working. He still has his sreaming moments but they are diminishing. When he realizes he doesn't get ANY attention, positive or negative he settles down. When he is quiet I interact with him. He still has his "chatter" but that I like as he is so entertaining and sweet. It's the demanding scream I take issue with. He is like a 2 yr old child that isn't getting his way. He is a smart little green muffin and is catching on pretty quick. So am I. LOL!

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:06 pm
by Sunny_girl
Hi there,
I was going to start a new message about my baby girl/boy Sunny (we call her a girl). She is a 7 month old IRN that screams and screeches whenever she doesn't see us! Even when she is out of her cage, she will walk to wherever she thinks we are.. I think she gets offended if we do anything without her! :)

Re: Screaming and Screeching! Continuously!! PLEASE HELP!!

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 10:22 pm
by yoda85
My bird Yoda, around 31/2 years of age, but is a girl, is screeching till the cows come home! I love her to pieces and realise I may have caused the problem to be worst as my partner and I try and reprimand her by making a loud noise or sqirting water (I know we shouldn't do this) but it can't be ignored. My main concern is that the neighbours are going to complain to council. I can't leave her to carry on screeching and I kid you not she will continue for 1/2hour or more even if I haven't made contact with her. If she just hears me come home or in the house she'll start and keep going!! She'll carry on even worst if there are other birds around and she has lorrikeets down pat. On Saturday mornings we try and not put her out in her day cage until after 9-10am as one of our neighbours has breakfast on their deck which is only 5m from Yodas cage. I'm sure they don't appreciate the screeching over breaky!!!

Yoda has a large cage, a balanced diet of pellets, fruit, veg and seed for a treat (but is becoming very fussy with fruit and veg). I have contact with her for up to 4 hours of more a day where we have cuddles and play on the floor.

Please help anyone!!! I'm afraid our neighbours patience will be wearing very very thin!!! I don't want to have to give her away!!!

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:41 am
by Azure
one solution to the problem would be to lock her into the cage when she starts screeching AND cover it with a blanket- that stops some of the noise and also is a clear message that screeching means no fun..
hope all goes well and nothing bad happens

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 5:19 pm
by yoda85
Thanks Azure, I'll try that and see how I go. I think I may need to get her a mate so she can have all the attention in the world. Thanks again!

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:02 am
by bec
sunny girl
lol i can just picture sunny marching along looking for you
if you look at it from sunnys point of veiw its a bit easier to understand and luckily can be very easy to fix
irns are flock parrots so in her mind you are her flock and the flock stays together for saftey so you being near makes sunny feel safe
when birds in a flock cant see each other they let out calls to each other to find their "safe zone" (you)
when you leave the room and she calls just say whistle or say something ( i normally just tell them where i am or say yeah yeah im making coffee)
when sunny hears you she will realise your still near & calm down
then wait till she is quiet before going in the room
and make a fuss of what a good quiet girl she is

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:12 am
by bec
yoda for your little guy i would suggest the same things for you as i did in my previous post but i would also try a more in his face kind of training
find a treat any food he loves and stand with your back to him
im sorry to say he will screech at you but when ever he stops & is quiet give him a treat if he gets rowdy turn your back and keep doing this irns are very food oreintated and will verey quickly learn quiet bird equals nice yummy treats or pats
another thing that works is when he screeches at you whisper queitly do you know yoda when your screaming like that you cant hear a word im saying its so cute how quickly my guys stops the yells to hear what im saying

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:37 pm
by Sunny_girl
Thanks for your reply Bec, I'll try both of the suggestions you posted and let u know how they go. I particularly loved the whispering suggestion.. I'm a primary school teacher and I use that with my students (it works really well with them too). :)

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:02 pm
by bec
lol sunnygirl
that whispere thing was one i learned of my mum for screaming toddler tantrums
one day i was desperate to stop riku screaming while his pet kid was at school
gotta admit though you coulda knocked me down with a feather when it worked!!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

Re: Screaming and Screeching!

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:31 pm
by yoda85
Hi Bec,
Thank you, they are great tips! I'll give them ago.
Cheers!

Re: Screaming and Screeching! Continuously!! PLEASE HELP!!

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:45 am
by Melika
yoda85 wrote:My bird Yoda, around 31/2 years of age, but is a girl, is screeching till the cows come home! I love her to pieces and realise I may have caused the problem to be worst as my partner and I try and reprimand her by making a loud noise or sqirting water (I know we shouldn't do this) but it can't be ignored. My main concern is that the neighbours are going to complain to council. I can't leave her to carry on screeching and I kid you not she will continue for 1/2hour or more even if I haven't made contact with her. If she just hears me come home or in the house she'll start and keep going!! She'll carry on even worst if there are other birds around and she has lorrikeets down pat. On Saturday mornings we try and not put her out in her day cage until after 9-10am as one of our neighbours has breakfast on their deck which is only 5m from Yodas cage. I'm sure they don't appreciate the screeching over breaky!!!

Yoda has a large cage, a balanced diet of pellets, fruit, veg and seed for a treat (but is becoming very fussy with fruit and veg). I have contact with her for up to 4 hours of more a day where we have cuddles and play on the floor.

Please help anyone!!! I'm afraid our neighbours patience will be wearing very very thin!!! I don't want to have to give her away!!!
Have you spoken to your neighbors? Inform them kindly that you are aware your bird screams and that it is something you are now working on, that you aren't just going to let in continue forever. Ask for their patience, explain how a parrot can be much like a 2yr old child and can be very stubborn, especially once they learn bad habits, but you are going to change that. Explain what you have done wrong and what you need to do to make it right (so they might hear a little more screaming for a few days to a week). It might take a while. Ask them if it has been bothering them- some people don't care or don't notice. Who knows, some of them might have had parrots in the past and have advice for you too. Talk to your family too and explain whatever plan you come up with- everyone needs to go along with it.

What I would do? This will take much consistency on your part. The reason she'll continue screaming for so long is because she KNOWS that eventually you will come give her attention, you've trained her to continue screaming until you give her attention, no matter how long it takes. Get some ear plugs for everyone and carry on, ignoring her until she quiets down. I won't lie, it will probably get worse before it gets better. But parrots are very smart and quick to understand. If she is quiet but begins screaming (even in happiness) as you approach her cage, stop and turn your back to her. Only go towards her again when she is quiet.

Play time would have to change- small intervals are better than long lengths of time. You want to encourage independence and self-entertaining behaviors. Right now it sounds like she depends upon you for entertainment and is bored unless she has face time with you. Have a playstand, feed favourite foods on it and have fun toys- destroyable and foraging toys with treats in them. Only spend ten minutes or so at a time actively playing with your bird then return her to her stand for a while before giving attention again.

Try clicker/trick training- this makes time with you productive and stimulates the mind. http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/vie ... 69&#p67368

Feed in meals and add foraging rather than having dishes available at all times. Feed veggies/fruits in the morning and seed/pellets in the evenings. http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=11701

Is the cage set up interesting? Or can she just lazily walk across it from one side to the other? Make it a maze of perches and toys where she can leap from perch to perch or swing crazily around hanging from a leather strip- find out what she prefers. Hane prefers hopping and climbing. His brother loved to hang from the bottom of a toy and swing crazily around. They had VERY different cage setups. Also, have a large bin full of toys. Change the toys out at least every month to keep things interesting. It's a large investment up front to have so many toys, but they last much longer and I find I spend less money in the long run. With some online companies you can save money by ordering so many toys at once.

I hope some of this can help or even give you your own ideas on how to deal with Yoda. :)